Big or small, your plumbing project deserves the right plumber. So instead of jumping at the first attractive offer that comes along, do your research and make a wise choice.

The following will lead you in the right direction:

Seeking Referrals

The best way to find a good plumber is get a personal recommendation from someone you trust. This may be a relative, a friend, a colleague – anyone who has hired a plumber and was happy with the results. You can also ask for contacts from another tradesman you might have hired before, like an HVAC technician or a builder. Don’t forget to tell the plumber how you knew about them, and you may just get a discount.

Trade Organizations or Tradesmen Schemes

A safe place to ask for referrals would be trade organizations in the plumbing industry. On the Internet, you can find tradesmen scheme websites, which are either operated by a private group or operators accredited by the government. These websites usually offer databases where you can search for plumbers.

Online Testimonials

As always, we can rely on the Internet to makes our lives as easy as can be. Individual contractors and small businesses normally have no funds to spend for expensive traditional advertising, and will instead rely on review websites to promote themselves. These websites can be very helpful, but they’re not foolproof. Some plumbers can create bogus profiles and write positive reviews about themselves. Also remember that online reviews can be extreme, but things should average out in the overall rating. The safest way to read reviews is take each one with pinch of salt.

Social Media

These days, it is common for consumers to use the social medial to communicate with companies they’ve worked with, either to compliment them for a good job or to vent their dissatisfaction. If you’re planning to hire a specific plumber or plumbing company, go to their Twitter or Facebook page and know what people are saying. Also look into how they respond to the comments.

Requesting for Quotes

It’s always best to have at least three different quotes from three different plumbers. This lets you compare their prices as well as their services. You can just make a call and ask for the quotes, and while they won’t be able to give an accurate estimate without visiting your home, you will be able to get an idea how they compare in terms of affordability.

Seeking References

Lastly, do not shy away from asking your prospective plumbers to give you references. And when you do get some, make sure you actually check them out. This is the best way to know what you can expect from this guy, unless he was personally referred to you by someone you trust.

All in all, never rush into deciding to hire a certain plumber. Always be clear about the facts before making a choice.